The Fantasticast

Just Three Of The Guys

It's time for another episode of the Fantasticast. This time around, Steve and Andy are joined by the mighty Shawn Engel, host of Just One Of The Guys and co-host of Two True Freaks: Walking Dead Wednesdays. Shawn joins us for one of the most interesting and enjoyable issues from this period - Fantastic Four #28: We Have To Fight The X-Men. No prizes for guessing who guest-stars in this issue...

Then it's on to Strange Tales #122, which features Three Against The Torch - Doctor Doom's super-powered henchmen going up against our flaming hero.

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Horny Namor

It's the 30th episode of The Fantasticast, and our first episode of 2013.

To kick off the new year, we start with one of the longest running plot threads in the Fantastic Four - that love triangle between Sue Storm, Reed Richards, and Namor the Sub-Mariner. It's time to wrap this plot up and put it to bed, and Fantastic Four #27 almost does that. We also say goodbye to inker George Roussos, and sadly he's not leaving on a high...

Then it's over to Strange Tales #121 and the highly-anticipated dreaded return of The Plant Man, before taking a fast dip into Daredevil #2 to see how a guest appearance by Marvel's First Family helps or hinders the second issue of this troubled title. We end with a song and a new closing tag.

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Steve And Andy Throw Their Normal Format Out Of Window, Choose Some Comics To Review, And Have An Unfeasibly Long Episode Title

Hey everybody! We did it! We made it to the end of our first year! Yes, one year ago (give or take a couple of days), the first episode of the show was released. To celebrate our first birthday, we decided to abandon our issue-by-issue format for one episode only, and do a little something special. A podcaster's choice, if you will. So, we chose an issue each from the entire length and breadth of the Fantastic Four and its related titles, with only one rule - No Stan & Jack.

Andy dove into the mid-1980s and chose the main secondary title from that decade, The Thing, by John Byrne and Ron Wilson. In fact, it's the second issue of that title, taking a long-overdue look at the early days of Ben and Reed's friendship and Ben's first love. Steve chose his very first Fantastic Four comic, the final issue of the legendary run by Mark Waid and Mike Wieringo - Fantastic Four #524.

So, join us for two of our very favourite issues. Feel free to tell us about your favourite individual issues of the Fantastic Four by e-mailing us at [email protected]

Bailey's Iceman Podcast

And... we're back. Special guest-host Michael Bailey brings to a close his record-breaking run on the Fantasticast by joining Steve and Andrew to cover Strange Tales #120, featuring Iceman from the X-Men. It's a shorter episode this week, a little pre-Christmas appetiser, if you will.

The audio quality is a bit odd this week. The normal record failed, so we had to use Michael's backup record. Unfortunately, as Michael was about 4200 miles away from both Steve and Andrew, they sound a bit distorted. Many thanks to Michael for the backup recording - without this, we wouldn't have an episode! And many thanks to Michael for joining us on the show over the past four episodes. Below is a list of some of his current podcasts - go check them out!

Views From The Longbox

From Crisis To Crisis: A Superman Podcast

Bailey's Batman Podcast

Two True Freaks: Comics Monthly Mondays

PADSmash: An Incredible Hulk Podcast

Radio KAL

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Hulk Goes Home And Plays With His Trains

We're back, and we're bringing Michael Bailey with us!

Once again, we drag Michael into our business as we sit down and take a look at Fantastic Four #26, featuring the conclusion to the first ever two-part story in the Fantastic Four. Marvel as the Hulk and the Thing carry on punching each other! Be surprised at Reed's miraculous recovery! Astonish at the Avengers, busting out of their own book and cracking skulls in this one!

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Ha! Not So Different After All!

Welcome to the 26th episode of the show. This episode is the second half of our coverage of the comics released in January 1964, focusing on the strangely different Rabble Rouser in Strange Tales #119. We also cover the reprints and collections of the issues, the British number one, and there's a bumper collection of outtakes and diversions that didn't quite fit into the episodes for you to enjoy.

Guest-host Michael Bailey returns to help us with this week's issue.

Send in your feedback to [email protected], leave your comments at the libsyn site, or at fantasticflameon.wordpress.com. Follow us on twitter, where we are @fantasticast

December is here, and to celebrate, the Fantasticast has a special guest. We're also going weekly for the month. This week's episode focuses on Fantastic Four #25, where news of Captain America's ascendancy in The Avengers causes the Incredible Hulk to go on a rampage in New York, with only the First Family of Marvel standing in his way. Viruses, beatings and insecurity are all troubles that will have to be overcome if the team are to be triumphant.

To help us out with this multi-issue epic, we welcome onto the show Michael Bailey, of Views From The Longbox, From Crisis To Crisis: A Superman Podcast, Bailey's Batman Podcast, PADSmash: An Incredible Hulk Podcast, Two True Freaks: Comics Monthly Mondays, Xavier's Podcast For Gifted Children, Tales Of The Justice Society Of America, and many, many more.

Check back with us in 7 days for our coverage of Strange Tales #119.

Send in your feedback to [email protected], leave your comments at the libsyn site, or at fantasticflameon.wordpress.com. Follow us on twitter, where we are @fantasticast

An Enfant Terrible Is Not Literally A Terrible Infant

No, it really isn't.

Welcome to the twenty-fourth episode of The Fantasticast. This time around, Steve Lacey (20 Minute Longbox) and Andrew Leyland (Heykids Comics) take a look at Fantastic Four #24 (featuring the Infant Terrible) and Strange Tales #118 (featuring the return, again, of the Wizard). To our surprise, both of these issues are better than our admittedly low expectations had led us to believe.

Along the way, we read your emails, talk a bit about the imminent meeting of bodies and minds as we meet for the first time on Saturday at the Thought Bubble convention, and spend a bit of time discussing omnibuses and absolutes.

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(Asbestos) Grease Is The Word

In the twenty-third episode of The Fantasticast, Steve and Andrew do the following:

• Cover Fantastic Four #23 - The Master Plan of Doctor Doom
• Cover Strange Tales #117 - The Return of The Eel
• Read your e-mails
• Explain social networking for the over-40s
• Make at least one too many Jimmy Saville jokes
• Sing

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Going Underground

Hello and welcome to the twenty-second episode of The Fantasticast! This week, Steve and Andy have their biggest haul of comics to cover for the show, as well as a mountain of emails to go through.

First up is the return of the Mole Man in Fantastic Four #22. Then we have a full-on smackdown between Ben and Johnny in Strange Tales #116. Then we drop in on Earth's Mightiest Heroes in Avengers #3, before finishing off with another Spidey/Torch fight in Amazing Spider-Man #8.

We also spend some time going through emails and feedback to the show.

Send in your feedback to [email protected], or leave it over at the libsyn site. Follow us on twitter, where we are @fantasticast

Don't forget to check out our daily panel blog at fantasticflameon.wordpress.com